The Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB) has announced plans to deploy a home-grown technological innovation aimed at reducing the high cost of poultry feeds, a major challenge affecting Nigeria’s livestock sector and protein supply.
The Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Olusola Babatunde Kehinde, disclosed this while briefing journalists ahead of the university’s 33rd convocation ceremony scheduled to hold next week at the institution’s campus in the Alabata axis of Odeda Local Government Area, Ogun State.
Prof. Kehinde explained that the innovation focuses on reducing dependence on maize and soya beans, which have become expensive due to rising production costs. He noted that higher prices of these feed ingredients have continued to drive up poultry feed prices nationwide.
“The cost of producing maize and other conventional feed ingredients has become extremely high,” he said. “Our approach is to replace maize and soya beans with viable alternatives, and substantial work is ongoing in the animal production sector.”
According to him, FUNAAB is equipping students with alternative feed-production technologies that will enable them to manufacture poultry feed at lower costs.
The Vice-Chancellor also disclosed that 104 students out of 4,141 graduands would be graduating with First-Class Bachelor’s degrees at the forthcoming convocation. A breakdown of the results showed that 1,771 graduands earned Second-Class Upper Division degrees, while 1,896 obtained Second-Class Lower Division degrees.
In addition, 285 students graduated with Third-Class degrees, while two earned Pass degrees. He announced that Osianu Joy, of the Department of Food Science and Technology, emerged as the overall best graduating student with a CGPA of 4.85.
Prof. Kehinde further revealed that 69 graduands completed their studies under the Part-Time Degree Programme, while 41 students earned the Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) degree, which is not classified.
“Graduation symbolises triumph over challenges, the fulfilment of dreams, and the opening of new horizons,” he said. “We are releasing into society a new generation of innovative entrepreneurs and skilled professionals ready to contribute to national development.”
He described the convocation ceremony as a celebration that brings together stakeholders to honour individual excellence and institutional achievement. The Vice-Chancellor also commended the Federal Government, led by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, for its consistent and timely release of funds, which he said has been central to FUNAAB’s progress and growth nationwide today.
